Carton holder



July 22, 1969 R J. MOALASTER CARTON HOLDER Filed Nov. 8. 1967 1 N VEN TOR fiw 1 #mzag US. Cl. 220-85 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder for receiving and holding a carton, which in operative position includes an elongated girth member extending about the carton in a region above the base of the carton. The girth member has a channel defined in one of its ends within which its other end is received to fasten releasably the girth member about the carton. A pair of handles are secured to the girth member adjacent its ends in such positions that upon gripping them the ends of the girth members are urged together. A U- shaped support strap is joined to and extends downwardly from opposed sides of the girth member and under the base of the carton.

This invention relates to a carton holder, and more particularly to a holder which removably receives a carton.

Many types of cartons, such as milk cartons, do not have handles, and are difficult to hold properly or securely when titled to pour out their contents. Detachable carton holders have been proposed in the past for such cartons, but these have not been entirely satisfactory. Many do not open up to permit a carton to be easily inserted therein and are thus inconvenient to use. Other previously-proposed carton holders do open up, but the means provided for fastening them about the carton usually is not designed to accommodate more than minor variations in the size or shape of the carton held. Such holders cannot be fastened tightly about a carton and do not provide adequate support, especially when the contents of the carton are being poured.

A general object of the invention is to provide a novel carton holder which takes care of the above-indicated difficulties in a practical and satisfactory manner.

More specifically, an object is to provide such a novel carton holder which may be opened up to accommodate inserting a carton into the holder and which provides adequate support for the carton.

Another object is to provide such a holder having a pair of handles which are so disposed thereon that when the handles are gripped to lift the holder, it is tightened more securely about the carton.

The holder contemplated features an elongated girth member having separable end portions, which girth member is formed to extend about a carton. One of the end portions defines a channel adapted slidably to receive the other of the end portions to fasten the girth member about the carton. A pair of handle members are secured to the girth member with one handle member secured to one of the end portions and the other handle member secured to the other end portion so that with a carton in the holder the members are slightly spaced apart. In this way, gripping the handle members to lift the holder and carton causes the handle members, and consequently the end portions of the girth member to be urged toward each other thus tightening the girth member about the carton.

A further object is to provide a novel carton holder which is relatively simply and economically constructed.

These and other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more fully apparent as the descrip- 3,456,842 Patented July 22, 1969 tion is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton holder constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention opened up to receive a carton; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton holder illustrated in FIG. 1, with a carton inserted therein and with the carton holder closed about the carton.

Referring now to the drawings, at 10 is indicated generally a carton holder as contemplated herein. The carton holder includes an elongated girth member 12 which has end portions 14, 16. The girth member is a strip of metal, or in the alternative plastic or similar material, which has been formed to the general shape of the carton which it is designed to receive. In the embodiment illustrated, this girth member takes the form of a rectangle having sides 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d.

End portion 16 of the girth member has upper and lower marginally turned edges 20, 22, which extend toward each other to form a channel within which the other end portion 14 of the girth member may be slidably received. In this manner the two end portions are detachably connected to each other through a sliding connection.

A pair of handle members 26, 28, also referred to as handle means, are secured to and project outwardly from end portions 14, 16 of the girth member. As is best seen in FIG 1, handle member 26 is set back from the edge of end portion 14, so that there is suflicient of end por tion 14 to be received Within the channel defined by marginal edges 20, 22 on end portion 16.

A pair of U-shaped straps 32, 34 are joined at their upper ends to the girth member and extended downwardly therefrom. Strap 32 includes a pair of spaced upright leg portions which join at their upper ends to opposed sides 12a, 120 of the girth member, while strap 34 also includes a pair of spaced upright leg portions which join at their upper ends to opposed sides 12b, 12d. Strap 32 has a base 32a which is horizontally disposed and extends between and connects the lower ends of the upright leg portions of strap 32 in a region spaced below the girth member. Strap 34 has a base 34a which is similarly horizontally disposed and extends between and connects the lower ends of the upright leg portions of strap 34 in a region spaced below the girth member. Bases 32a, 34a lie in abutting contact adjacent their midregions and are disposed at an angle of about to each other.

The carton holder illustrated in FIG. 1 is in open position ready to receive a carton. In this position end portions 14, 16 of the girth member are separated with sides 120, 12c slightly bent outwardly and away from each other to enlarge the opening defined by the girth member. With the girth member thus opened up, a carton such as a milk carton, illustrated generally at 40 in phantom outline in FIG. 2, may be inserted base first into the carton holder.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, the carton is inserted in the holder with the base of the carton being supported by bases 32a, 34a of the U-shaped straps. The girth member is fastened about the carton in a region spaced above the base of the carton by inserting end portion 14 of the girth member within the channel defined in end portion 16 and sliding the ends together as illustrated. With the end portions thus fastened together, handle members 26, 28 are disposed adjacent one another so that they may be easily gripped in one hand to lift the holder and carton.

As is seen in FIG. 2, with a carton of substantially standard dimensions supported in the holder, end portion 16 and handle member 28 are spaced a distance from handle member 26. Thus, on lifting the carton holder with handle members 26, 28 gripped in one hand, the gripping force exerted thereagainst will cause end porttions 14 and 16 to be urged toward each other to tighten the girth member more firmly about the carton. This gripping action, and consequent tightening of the girth member about the carton, acts to hold the carton and retain it firmly within the holder during tilting of the carton to pour its contents.

The slidable fastening action between end portions 14 and 16 of the girth member also allows various size cartons to be accommodate by the holder according to the invention. For example, should a carton be larger around than the size for which the holder is designed, end portion 14 extends sufliciently beyond handle member 26 still to be received within end portion 16 to fasten the girth member about such carton, and, conversely, should the carton be smaller, the space generally provided between end portion 16, handle member 28 and handle member 26 allows girth member 12 to be tightened about such smaller carton.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it is appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letter Patent:

1. A removable holder for a carton, comprising,

an elongated girth member adapted to extend about such carton in a region spaced above the base thereof, said girth member having a pair of separable end portions the ends of which are detachably connectable to each other whereby the girth member may be releasably fastened about such carton,

a pair of handles joined to the girth member for lifting the holder, with one of said handles secured to and projecting outwardly from one of said end portions of the girth member and the other handle secured to and projecting outwardly from the other of said end portions in a position adjacent said one handle, there being a space between the handles whereby upon gripping of the handles said end portions are urged to move toward each other, and

support means joined to said girth member adapted to underlie and support the base of such carton.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said end portions of the girth member are detachably connectable to each other through a sliding connection which permits movement of said end portions toward and away from each other while maintaining a connection therebetween.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein opposing marginal edges of one of said end portions are turned to define a channel for slidably receiving the other of said end portions.

4. The holder of claim 1, wherein said support means comprises an elongated U-shaped strap which has a pair of spaced-apart upright leg portions extending down from one set of opposed sides of the girth member and a base extending between and connecting the lower ends of said leg portions in a region spaced below said girth member. 5. The holder of claim 4, wherein said support means further comprises another U-shaped strap which has a pair of spaced-apart leg portions extending down from another set of opposed sides of the girth member and a base extending between and connecting the lower ends of the leg portions of said other U-shaped strap in a region spaced below said girth member and adjacent the base of the first-mentioned strap. 6. A removable holder for a carton comprising an elongated girth member adapted to extend about such carton in a region spaced above the base thereof, said girth member having a pair of separable end portions the ends of which are positioned adjacent each other,

a pair of handles joined to the girth member for lifting the holder, with one of said handles secured to and projecting outwardly from one of said end portions and the other handle secured to and projecting outwardly from the other of said end portions at a location adjacent said one handle, and

support means joined to said girth member adapted to underlie and support the base of a carton, said support means comprising an elongated U-shaped strap which has a pair of spaced-apart upright leg portions extending down from one set of opposed sides of the girth member and a base extending between and connecting the lower ends of said leg portions in a region spaced below said girth member, said leg portions and base forming a cradle depending from the girth member for seating the base of a carton.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein said support means further comprises another U-shaped strap disposed transversely of the first strap which has a pair of spaced-apart leg portions which extend down from another set of opposed sides of the girth member and a base extending between and connecting the lower ends of such leg por- 40 tions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,584,857 5/1926 Hobbs 294--33 XR 2,730,278 1 1956 Sherlowslcy. 3,021,026 2/ 1962 Clare.

FOREIGN PATENTS 141,320 5/ 1951 Australia.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 224-45; 294 -32 

